Military signaling apparatus.



B. R. DI ETZ. MILITARY SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17,1908.

Patented June 13, 1911.

UNITED, TATES PATENT @FFTQE.

BERNARD RUSSEL DIETZ, OF CANTERBURY, ENGLAND.

MILITARY SIGNALING APPARATUS.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD RUSSEL DIE'rz, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at St. Nons, Canterbury, in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new and useful Military Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for use in indicating positions or the whereabout of parties in connection with military and other operations; the object being to render the positions observable by, say, the oflicer commanding, but to prevent the same being ascertained by the opposing force or parties.

The apparatus is also serviceable as a means of signaling or communicating.

According to my invention the apparatus comprises a disk or disk like device which may be adapted for being folded and for being secured to a staff or holder of telescopic or other desired construction. The disk may be of such a character that one side is readily observable from a considerable distance while the other side renders the disk incapable of discernment from a point of view directed thereto. For instance, the one side may be white or other color readily distinguishable and the other side may be khaki or other color adapted to give a neutral effect. The disk may be formed in any suitable manner so as to be capable of folding for the purpose of affording lightness and portability.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of one form of disk device adapted for use in indicating, communicating or signaling, the movable portion or segment being operated rotatively by means of a spindle. Fig. 3 is an elevation of another form of disk device operable by means of a spindle in conjunction with gearing whereb the movement may be expedited and e fected by a small movement on the part of the operator. Fig. 4 is a fractional view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, drawn to a larger scale.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the device comprises a circular frame as having a filling a constituting a disk. The rear of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1908.

Patented June 13, 1911. Serial No. 427,743.

this disk or that surface thereof, which is situated remote from the View represented in the drawing is adapted to give a neutral side of the said segment 6 and the front of the other half of the disk or main portion a being of a neutral color similar to that of the rear of the said portion. The disk a, b is mounted on a handle or support 0 which may be as shown of tubular form or the handlemay be telescopic as will be readily understood. The lower end of the handle may be formed or provided with a spike c for enabling the device to be easily steadied or supported, say, by inserting the said eX- tremit-y in the ground. If found requisite or desirable, the said handle may be provided with a strut (not shown) for use in steadying the disk when inuse. The hinged segment Z2 may be operated by means of the spindle d and finger piece d, so as to expose the white side of the segment in conjunction with the white half of the disk a, which two white portions, when the said segment is turned through an angle of 180, assume a position alongside each other and form a circular white surface. By suitably manipulating the segment 6 signals or indications may be transmitted according to a prearranged code while the neutral side of the disk afiords complete obscurity to an observer from that side so that the signals or indications can be read or understood only from the side which would be turned or directed to the officer or other individual intended to receive the signals or indications. If a quick action of the hinged segment Z) is required with a minimum amount of movement on the part of the operator, the manipulation of the said segment may be effected by means of gearing such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 in which 0Z represents a toothed sector and d a bevel pinion in mesh with the sector. By imparting a rocking movement to the sector d about the pivot or center (i by means of a finger piece, such as d, the pinion (1 may be rotated and the latter being fast on the splndle (Z to which the segment is secured effects the desired angular movement of the segment in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The herein described signaling device will be seen to be superior to the ordinary method involving the use of flags as with the latter if the wind be toward or from the force requiring the signals it is necessary to wave the flag in order to render the same visible. By so doing the flag may be seen as well by the one side as the other and the signals may be read by the opposing force or enemy, thus constituting a serious objection to this mode of signaling.

It will be obvious that the herein described apparatus may be used in communicating or signaling somewhat after the manner of the flags ordinarily employed or the said apparatus may be adapted to a code.

The said disk signaling or indicating devices for day use may if desired be associated with a helio, by being aflixed to the tripod; the disk being worked by means of a turning action such as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive or by means of a connection with the action pertaining to the helio.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A signaling apparatus comprising a disk-like device having a rear surface of inconspicuous color and a front surface half of which is of inconspicuous color and the other half of conspicuous color, a spindle arranged diametrically and rotatably mounted on said disk, a segment carried by said spin die and having its respective faces of inconspicuous and conspicuous colors, and a finger piece on said spindle for operating said segment to transmit signals.

2. A signaling apparatus comprising a disk-like device having a rear surface of inconspicuous color and a front surface half of which is of inconspicuous color and the other half of conspicuous color, a spindle arranged diametrically and rotatably mounted on said disk, a segment carried by said spindle and having its respective faces of inconspicuous and conspicuous colors, a finger piece on said spindle for operating the segment to transmit signals, and means for supporting said disk and segment.

A signaling apparatus comprising a disk-like device having a rear surface of inconspicuous color and a front surface half of which is of inconspicuous color and the other half of conspicuous color, a spindle arranged diametrically and rotatably mounted on said disk, a segment carried by said spindle and having its respective faces of inconspicuous and conspicuous colors, a finger piece pertaining to said spindle, and a gearing for imparting the movement of said finger piece to the segment and spindle.

4. A signaling apparatus comprising a disk-like device having a rear surface of inconspicuous color and a front surface half of which is of inconspicuous color and the other half of conspicuous color, a spindle arranged diametrically and rotatably mounted on said disk, a segment carried by said spindle and having its respective faces of inconspicuous and conspicuous colors, a finger piece, a toothed gearing for imparting the movements of said ,finger piece to the segment and spindle, and means for supporting the disk and segment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD RUSSEL DIETZ. lVitnesses:

vT. SELLY WARDLE, R. J. SYMONDS.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

